78 RUMENOTOMY 



In withdrawing the canula, replace the stilette and press 

 the skin against the abdomen with the thumb and finger of 

 one hand while the trocar is drawn out with the other. 

 This tends to prevent particles of ingesta from following 

 the canula out of the intestine and becoming lodged at 

 some point in the track of the wound to set up inflamma- 

 tory processes there. 



Before introduction, the trocar should always be rendered 

 sterile but should not bear irritant antiseptics, which be- 

 coming lodged in the wound tend to irritate the tissues and 

 produce abscesses. Puncture of the intestine is so often 

 extremely urgent that deliberate aseptic precautions are 

 not always practicable and trocarization only too frequently 

 results in abscesses in the abdominal wall. Its prevention 

 must depend chiefly upon the disinfection of the skin and 

 instrument. It becomes important to use an instrument 

 which is clean in advance. If the one shown in Fig. 29 is 

 well disinfected after using and the sheath is filled with 

 alcohol before it is screwed on, the instrument will remain 

 sterile until it is again unsheathed when the alcohol will 

 quickly evaporate and leave the trocar aseptic. 



21. RtTMENOTOMY 



Objects. The surgical evacuation of the rumen when 

 overfilled and not subject to relief by medication ; an ex- 

 ploratory operation for aid in diagnosis ; the removal of 

 foreign bodies from the rumen and reticulum. 



Instruments, etc. Clippers, razor, local anaesthetics, hypo- 

 dermic syringe, scalpels, heavy curved artery or dressing 

 forceps (6 to 8 pairs), scissors, assorted needles suitable for 

 suturing rumen, peritoneum, muscles and skin, assorted 

 catgut, and silk or linen sutures, needle forceps, sterile 

 gauze. 



